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The official closing date for the Skills and Partnership Fund (SPF) Call for Proposals (CFP) has been extended to July 29, 2016 at 11:59 EST.

The Skills and Partnership Fund is a demand-driven, partnership-based program that supports government priorities through strategic partnerships by funding projects contributing to the skills development and training of Indigenous workers for long-term, meaningful employment.http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/jobs/aboriginal/partnership_fund/index.shtmlThe Government of Canada is currently accepting applications for funding from Indigenous organizations interested in receiving financial assistance from the Skills and Partnership Fund (SPF).

The purpose of this Applicant Guide is to provide information to assist you with the completion of your Application for Funding to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). It is recommended that you read the Applicant Guide in its entirety before you start completing the Application for Funding.

Objective of this Call for ProposalsEmployment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) invites the submission of an Application for Funding from Indigenous organizations interested in obtaining time-limited SPF contribution funding. Proposals must demonstrate partnership-based approaches to the development of Training to Employment or Innovation activities improving employment outcomes of Indigenous people.

Call for Proposals SummaryThe maximum duration of projects is four years (48 months).The total amount of funding requested from ESDC must not exceed $10 million per project.Under the Training to Employment stream, proposals will receive additional consideration if at least 50% of the total project value comes from partners (e.g. from large, private-sector organizations).As this is a competitive process, not all proposals submitted under this CFP will be selected; funding is limited and subject to ESDC’s annual budget considerations and allocation of funds by Parliament.The Government of Canada reserves the right to accept a proposal, in whole or in part, and give consideration to factors such as geographic coverage, and official language requirements.Apply NowESDC is currently accepting applications for funding from Indigenous organizations interested in receiving financial assistance from the Skills and Partnership Fund (SPF).

Additonal InformationEligibility InformationHighlightsFor this Call for Proposals (CFP), ESDC encourages applicants to submit their application on its new Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) system. GCOS is a secure web environment for applying for programs that will allow you to manage your agreements with ESDC online in an efficient way (e.g. with 24/7 access and the ability to submit financial claims and reports electronically). Registering with GCOS can take up to two (2) weeks; therefore, we invite you to register on the GCOS Registration site if you have not already registered.

Information on submitting applications via mail or email is available under the Apply tab.

Eligible ProjectsFor the purpose of this CFP, funding will be provided to successful applicants whose proposals demonstrate partnership-based approaches to improving employment outcomes of Indigenous people in the Training to Employment and/or Innovation funding stream. If an applicant wishes to apply for funding under both the Training to Employment and Innovation streams, a separate application must be submitted for each stream.

Each of the following requirements must be met in order for projects to be considered eligible for funding:

Training to EmploymentA target of a minimum of 50 employed clients over the course of the project, in skilled and long-term jobs (i.e. at least one year duration). Proposals with commitments for less than 50 employed clients, particularly if the job opportunities are skilled and long-term, may also be considered. However, preference will be given to those projecting to meet or exceed this target.Effective project management oversight, through equitable representation of Indigenous and contributing partners, and federal officials as ex-officio members, on established advisory committees overseeing the project.Direct link to an Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS) agreement holder or other service delivery provider (e.g. educational institution, other ESDC programs, etc.) for projects that include pre-employment or essential skills training activities.Total administration costs to be covered by ESDC do not exceed 15% of the total ESDC funding requested.Evidence of efforts to engage the provincial or territorial government as a partner, or a clear explanation of why they are not an appropriate partner.A clear breakdown of cash and in-kind contributions, accompanied by written confirmation from partners.InnovationEffective project management oversight, through equitable representation of Indigenous and contributing partners, and federal officials as ex-officio members, on established advisory committees overseeing the project.Direct link to an Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS) agreement holder or other service delivery provider (e.g. educational institution, other ESDC programs, etc.) for projects that include pre-employment or essential skills training activities.Total administration costs to be covered by ESDC do not exceed 15% of the total ESDC funding requested.Evidence of efforts to engage the provincial or territorial government as a partner, or a clear explanation of why they are not an appropriate partner.A clear breakdown of cash and in-kind contributions, accompanied by written confirmation from partners.Across both streams of this CFP, the earliest anticipated start date could be October 1, 2016.

There is a significant difference between support and partnership. A supporter endorses a project, whereas a partner makes a contribution and plays an active role. Under the Training to Employment stream, proposals will receive additional consideration if at least 50% of the total project value is contributed by partners (e.g. from large, private-sector organizations). Other federal government funding cannot be considered a cash contribution. An applicant may not identify a separate department or division of its own organization as the sole partner. The Application for Funding must identify confirmed partners and the contributions they are committing to the project and what the funding will be used for.

A partner commitment letter template is included under the Develop your Application tab. Use of the template is not mandatory but is highly recommended to ensure that partner letters include a sufficient level of detail of what their contribution will be to the project and explain how the partner will participate in the operation and oversight of the project.

Eligible RecipientsOnly Indigenous organizations* are eligible to submit proposals. This may include (but is not limited to): incorporated for-profit and not-for-profit Indigenous controlled organizations; Indigenous-controlled unincorporated organizations; Indian Act bands; band or tribal councils; and Indigenous self-government entities.

A non-Indigenous organization cannot apply on behalf of an Indigenous organization.

Indigenous persons have majority ownership and control, meaning at least 51 percent; and,in the case of a business enterprise with six or more full-time employees, at least 33 percent of the full-time employees are Indigenous persons.Eligible ParticipantsEligible participants in Training to Employment and Innovation projects must be Indigenous Canadians.

Eligible ActivitiesStream 1: Training to EmploymentThe Training to Employment stream will target projects that aim to enhance the skills and access to employment of Indigenous people.

clarity of described activities and delivery model;how activities are linked to the project objectives;locations of activities and activity providers are identified;provision of approach for support and guidance (e.g. job coaching, follow-ups, etc.) to participants;activities have a logical flow, and timelines are clearly identified and reasonable; andhow activities focus on training-to-employment leading to concrete employment outcomes which may include job-focused skills, development training and service delivery improvements.Preference will be given to projects that include a strategy in place targeting the skills development and training needs of women and youth.

Stream 2: InnovationThe Innovation stream will target projects that test innovative approaches to enhance the employability of Indigenous people by addressing a broader range of socio-economic challenges within Indigenous communities (e.g. homelessness, addictions, lower education attainment). As a complement to the Training to Employment stream, projects funded through the Innovation stream will be expected to test new approaches to delivering community-based labour market programming that will address challenges in skills development and labour market participation of Indigenous people.

Examples of projects that meet the objective of the Innovation stream include:

The development of a new business model to support the ongoing (sustainable) funding of training-to-employment opportunities in a sector;Testing different types of training-to-employment approaches that are more appropriate in addressing the challenges of increasing the employability of Indigenous communities, are more cost effective or improve overall success rates (e.g. clients trained to employed ratio);New types of partnerships (e.g. charitable foundations, entrepreneurial not-for-profit organizations) that provide an innovative response to the usual barriers to employment for Indigenous people, as well as a new type of collaboration in addressing these broader socio-economic challenges; andMulti-sector projects addressing multiple barriers to employment (e.g. skills development and homelessness or addictions), aiming at systemic changes through innovative approaches.Innovation activities will be assessed on the following:

clarity of described activities and delivery model;how activities are linked to the project objectives;locations of activities and activity providers are identified;provision of approach for support and guidance (e.g. counselling, case management, follow-ups, etc.) to participants;activities have a logical flow, and timelines are clearly identified and reasonable; andhow activities focus on innovative approaches to addressing socio-economic issues which may include skills development training and service delivery improvements leading to improved employability.The evaluation criteria will be weighted differently to allow recognition of the innovative approach. Preference will be given to projects that include a strategy in place targeting the skills development and training needs of women and youth.

Eligible CostsEligible costs include:

project administration and overhead costs, such as wages and benefits, rental of office space, and telecommunication costs that are directly related to the administration or delivery of the project;equipment rental (capital asset purchases may be allowed where it can be demonstrated to be more cost-effective over the life of the project), such as computers and office equipment;materials and supplies directly related to the project;costs associated with printing, translation and dissemination of project reports;communications activities, including promotional material and activities, through print, web-based and other media;costs related to the case management of participants, such as counselling, mentoring, skills testing and needs evaluation, pre-employment training, post-secondary training, apprenticeship training, technical training, on-site training, literacy and essential skills training;Income support for participants, such as allowances, child care, wage subsidies or wage simulations, accommodation and transportation;costs for the provision of food to participants in training activities where it provides nourishment that is considered to contribute to the participants' successful completion of their training;costs of participant wages and the employer's share of employment-related costs for participants;professional fees related to audit, evaluation and assessment;professional fees for expertise not available through the organization or partners (for example, services provided by Indigenous elders; individuals receiving a salary from the sponsoring or partner organizations are not eligible to be paid as consultants);travel within Canada that is directly related to the project activities; andother costs that, in the opinion of the Minister, are necessary to carry out the project.Ineligible costs include:

capital improvements, such as the construction or renovation of buildings (other than repairs or renovations to support the participation of persons with disabilities);administrative overhead not directly related to the administration of the project;international travel;costs associated with fundraising activities;Canada Revenue Agency or payroll penalties and interest;traffic fines and penalties;parking passes;food, other than described under Eligible costs;legal fees and court awards for inappropriate dismissal or other inappropriate/illegal activity;membership fees for private clubs, golf clubs, gyms, etc.;staff salary bonuses;purchase of alcoholic beverages;mentor wages (under Youth projects); andgifts or payments for recognition (e.g. honoraria, ex gratia payments).